Comparison between Hydrogen, Methane and Ethylene Fuels in a 3-D Scramjet at Mach 8
Abstract
Gaseous hydrogen has typically been the fuel of choice for scramjets operating at speeds greater than Mach 7. This is because ofits high specific energy content, as well as its fast reaction characteristics in air. The disadvantage of hydrogen is its low density,which is a particular problem for small vehicles with significant internal volume constraints. The current study investigated the use ofgaseous methane as a fuel for a Mach 8 scramjet. This involved experiments with a 3-D scramjet using a cavity based flame holderin the T4 shock tunnel at The University of Queensland, as well as a companion fundamental CFD study. The performance of smallchained hydrocarbons (ethylene and methane) was compared with hydrogen to establish the importance of its lower specificenergy content and slower reaction characteristics. In addition, a scoping study was performed to determine the capability fordirect connect testing in the T4 shock tunnel.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 24, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1022771
Entities
People
- Michael K. Smart
Organizations
- University of Queensland